Folding-machine.



A. A. BOYCE. FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-14, 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

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FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1914.

Patented M 1915.

2 SHEETS- EET 2- mamas;

ALFRED A. BOYCE, 0F BARBIE, VERMONT.

FQLDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent ed May 4, 1915.

Application filed January 14, 1914. Serial No. 812,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALrREuA. Boron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Barre, in the county of Washington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improveconstruction and in the combination and ar-' rangement of the several parts whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more. convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to desoribe-thesame with reference to the accompanying drawings, Wherein- Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a folding machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, with a coacting element being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, illustrating certain details of my invention, as herein embodied, and showin the initial application of the slip to be fo ded; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the condition of the slip before it is passed between the folding rollers; Fig. 6 1s a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the slip passing through the folding rollers; and Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation of a slip after being folded by my improved machine.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a base WhlCh may be of any suitable configuration and produced from any de'slred material and which is provided with suitable bearings 22 in which is rotatably supported the elongated shaft member 3, provided with suitable means whereby the same may be caused to rotate, such means being herein disclosed as a conventional crank at adapted to be suitably engaged with one extremity of such shaft member 3.

F ixedly supported in a bearing 5 and disposed parallel with the shaft member 3 is the short shaft 6 on which is rotatably mounted a gear wheel 7 of predetermined size which is adapted to mesh with the interrupted gear 8 fixed to the shaft member 3, the extent of the teeth 9 on the interrupted gear 8 being such as to cause the gear 7 to make a one-half revolution-upon one complete revolution of the shaft member 3, for purposes which will hereinafter be made more apparent.

Carried by .one face of the gear 7 and adapted to rotate therewith is a plate 10, to the opposite extremities of which are rotatably connected, as at 11, the spindles 12-12 which spindles are caused to project through a frame 14 carried by the plate 10, whereby such spindles 12 are effectively malntained in operative position. Each of the spindles 12 is provided adjacent its inner extremity with an annular toothed member 15 affording a'gear adapted tomesh w1th the pinion or gear 16 fixed to the stationary shaft 6, whereby it will be readily perceived that while the spindles 1212 are caused to travel concentrically about the shaft 6, they will also be caused to have individual rotary movement.

Each of the spindles 12 has its-free extremity provided with the elongated longitudinally directed slot or recess 17 in which isadapted to project an end marginal portion of a slip a to be folded and in order that such strip when engaged with a spindle may be caused to be wound therearound I have extended substantially 'half way around each of such spindles the annular casing 18 carried'by the frame 14', whereby it assured that upon the rotation of the spindle, such slip a is maintained upon the spindle. At the same time that the spindles are being caused to rotate, the one to which the slip a is applied is caused to be positioned substantially in advance of the coacting rollers 19 and 20, so that an end portent of the folds.

evldent, the spindles 12 and their concom1-- tion of the slip a Wound upon a spindle and projecting beyond an extremi thereof may be engaged between the bight of suchrollers and withdrawn from the spindle between the rollers whereby it will be perceived that such slip a is properly folded, the circumference of the splndle determimng the ex- As is believed to be selfgaged whereby it is only necessary to provide a driving means for one of such rollers and, as herein shown, the roller 19 has its shaft 21 provided at one extremity with a gear 22 in mesh with a suitable gear 23 fixed to the shaft member 3.

In order that the slip a to be folded may readily enter between the bight of the rollers 19 and 20, Ihave a portion of the periphery of one of such rollers flattened tangentially, as indicated at 24, so that an effective opening is afforded for the entrance of the slip a when such slip approaches the rollers.

The slip a, after being folded by the rollers 19 and 20, is delivered to a suitable stall 25 into which the slips will pass, while each succeeding slip a is adapted to pass beneath the previous one and in order that the folded slip a may be conveyed within the stall, I employ the rollers 27 interposed betweenthe rollers 19 and 20 and the stall 25 and which are adapted to engage the under surface of the folded slip a and by this rotary movement convey the same with- 1 tional engagement.

in the stall, and in order to assure proper engagement of these rollers 27 with the slip, I provide such rollers with the teeth 28 disposed around about one-third of their circumferences which assures the proper fric- While such rollers 27 may be caused to rotate in any desired manner, I find it of advantage to fix the same to a suitable shaft 29 having one extremity provided with a gear 30 adapted to mesh with a gear 31 also fixed to the shaft member 3. The wheels 27 frictionally engage the folded slip and force the same within the stack as such slips are extremely small and are of extremely light weight. It will also be apparent that the rollers 19 and 20, to a certain degree, force the slips within the stack.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily perceived that I have produced a device which will readily and conveniently fold slips or the like and in order. that the p 31. As the details ofthe printing face form no particular part of mypresent invention, a detail thereof is believed unnecessary. The upper roller 20 serves asa carrying cylinder and positioned below the roller--19 and in contact therewith, I provide the fountain cylinder 33 fixed ona suitable shaft '34 and in frictional engagement with-the-roller 19, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular means for operating this roller 33. As herein disclosed, this roller 33 is provided with an absorbent blanket 36, to which is adapted to be applied an ink of the character genfliglly employedvwith hand stamps or the From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a folding machine constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be employed for folding slips especially of a character adapted to beemployed in connection with mail pouches and 1t will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown incarrying out my invention in practice.

Having thus fully described my invention what I desire to claim and secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1..A device of the character described including a folding means and a delivery mechanism coacting with said folding means and comprising a rotatable member movable relative to the folding means, a substantially rigid member rotatably supported by the first mentioned member and provided in its surface with a grooveextending mechanism co-acting with said folding means and comprising a rotatable member movable relatively to the folding means, a substantially rigid member rotatably supported by the first mentioned member and provided in its surface with a groove extending to the outer extremity thereof, such outer extremit of the second mentioned member being rought into close proximity to the folding means by the movement of the first mentioned member, and a casing fixedly secured to the first mentioned memher and disposed in close proximity to the second mentioned member. a

3. A device of the character described including a folding means and a delivery mechanism coacting with said folding means and comprising a rotatable member movable relative to the folding means, a substantially rigid member rotatably supported by the first mentioned member and provided with a radially disposed elongated open ended slot, the outer extremity of the second mentioned member being brought into close proximity to the folding means by the In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED A. BOYCE.

Witnesses:

RUFUS G. Ronmson, .Lnn 0. TRACY. 

